During my cruise in the Persian Gulf, I had the chance to visit several cities. Dubai, of course, with its endless skyscrapers including Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world on which I had the chance to climb, but I was also able to visit Abu Dhabi. This city, less touristy, less publicized and much calmer than Dubai surprised me a lot. Abu Dhabi is a city that lends itself well enough to a stay of a few days or even a visit from Dubai for the day.

Visit Abu Dhabi: Some information to know

Abu Dhabi is a city, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but it is also the name of one of the seven emirates that make up this country. The richest of all. Indeed Abu Dhabi entered a new area after the 1960s with the discovery and exploitation of the riches of its subsoil. Indeed, it is with oil (of which Abu Dhabi has 9% of world reserves) and natural gas (of which Abu Dhabi has 5% of world reserves) that Abu Dhabi was able to become the city it is now.
Abu Dhabi is a rich city and it shows. You can’t miss the famous 7-star hotel welcoming the most important and wealthy with rooms costing tens of thousands of euros a night, the Emirates Palace Hotel. This hotel has a private beach built with sand imported from Algeria. It testifies to the wealth that circulates in the city.
Besides this hotel, you will find many buildings there, like the famous Etihad Towers, huge shopping centers, the most modern museums and crazy projects.
Let’s go for a little visit to Abu Dhabi and its essentials.

What to do in Abu Dhabi: the essentials of a visit to Abu Dhabi

Visit Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Mosque

Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the largest mosque in the United Arab Emirates, the 8th largest in the world. Its construction lasted nearly 12 years and cost 400 million euros. It can accommodate 40,000 people. She is of rare beauty, one of the most beautiful in the world. Its interior decoration is very rich, with the largest chandelier in the world, 10 m in diameter and more than 12 tons. The mosque also has the largest carpet in the world, over 5,600 square meters.
The mosque is open to non-Muslims every day of the week except Friday. To visit the Abu Dhabi Mosque you can go there directly or opt for a guided tour of the city which will make you discover the main places of Abu Dhabi including the Sheikh Zayed Mosque.

Abu Dhabi, World Capital of Culture

While Dubai is aiming for the title of world capital of tourism within a few years, Abu Dhabi covets the title of world capital of culture and is giving itself the means to do so. Indeed, projects linked to culture are multiplying and are part of a more global project, Abu Dhabi 2030. Abu Dhabi has quite simply dedicated an island to receive these cultural projects, Saadiyat Island. You will soon find:

The Zayed National Museum

The Zayed National Museum project was originally a project carried out in partnership with the British Museum in London. A project unveiled in 2010 which was originally due to see the light of day in 2013. A few complications prompted the British Museum to withdraw from the project. We do not know, at present, if the project will see the light of day.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

In the image of the project in partnership with the British Museum, the Louvre Museum has also joined forces on a “Louvre Abu Dhabi” project. A project initially started in 2007 which saw the light of day at the end of 2017. The atypical architecture of the building was entrusted to the famous architect Jean Nouvel.
Since 2009, the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum has been purchasing numerous works in order to enrich its permanent collection. There are objects dating from antiquity but also more recent until the 21st century.
The museum is located on Saadiyat Island about ten kilometers from downtown Abu Dhabi. If you wish to visit Louvre Abu Dhabi, it is possible to purchase your skip-the-line tickets in advance online. Entrance costs a little less than € 20.

Le Performing Arts Center

The Performing Arts Center is the artistic center of Abu Dhabi, a city of the arts. This center, whose construction has not yet started, should include 5 theaters, a concert hall, a music hall or an opera house. It will have a very particular shape. Its creator wanting to give an organic and vegetal side to this building. It is planned on the same island as Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi’s new cultural district.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi

The Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi will be the 6th (and largest) Guggenheim Museum. After Berlin, Bilbao, Las Vegas, New York and Venice, Abu Dhabi will soon inaugurate the largest Guggenheim museum in the world with an area of ​​30,000 square meters. The construction of this museum is scheduled for 2018.

Yas Island, leisure above all

In addition to these places devoted to culture, mainly located on Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi recently created an island dedicated to leisure. This island hosts the craziest attractions, it is Yas Island. This island aims to host the craziest attractions in order to be entertained. It already hosts some world famous places.

Abu Dhabi and its Formula 1 circuit

First of all there is the famous circuit of Formula 1, the Yas Marina. Each year, a stage of the Formula 1 world championship takes place on this circuit. Like all the buildings in Abu Dhabi, this circuit has a very particular design because it passes under a hotel, also very design. Every year at least in November, the best Formula 1 drivers compete on this 5.5 km long circuit. The circuit also hosts motorcycle GP races.
It is possible to visit this Formula 1 circuit for around thirty euros.

Ferrari World d’Abu Dhabi

Close to this circuit you cannot miss the famous Ferrari World. Indeed, it is on this island that Ferrari has decided to set up its indoor amusement park. Opened in 2010, it has a very elaborate design with the largest roof in the world, 220,000 square meters. This park has many roller coasters, including the fastest in the world as well as the largest Ferrari logo in the world. An amusement park that will delight young and old alike with thrilling attractions!
Entrance to Ferrari World costs around 70 €, it is possible to buy tickets on the internet in advance.

Yas WaterWorld, Abu Dhabi’s water park

Let’s continue our journey a bit to head towards one of the largest water park in the world. The Yas WaterWorld. A huge 15-hectare water park with close to 43 attractions including a 238-meter-long water slide. This incredible water park hosts the Flowboarding World Championship every year. The park is divided into 8 zones, each with their own particularity. This park has received many distinctions including that of the main attraction of the Middle East in 2013, it was also elected among the 12 best water parks in the world!
The park was designed to respect sustainable development standards.

Where to sleep in Abu Dhabi?

Several places are to be favored if you are looking for a place to sleep in Abu Dhabi, the first being the Corniche, Corniche Road, a promenade of several kilometers long which runs along the sea. This place constitutes a first choice place to stay in Abu Dhabi.
Even if Abu Dhabi is full of overpriced hotels, it is quite possible to stay inexpensively in Abu Dhabi. I can recommend two ideally located hotels, the Novel Hotel City Center and the Sofitel Abu Dhabi. These two hotels offer great services for reasonable prices, at less than € 90 per night.
If you have a slightly more comfortable budget, you can head to Al Maryah Island which has some very nice hotels without spending several thousand euros on a room. This is the case of Rosewood Abu Dhabi or the Four Seasons.

My opinion on Abu Dhabi

During my visit to Dubai I, of course, visited many places, trendy hotels, beaches, chic districts but also the famous Burj Khalifa (Burj meaning tower in Arabic). I spoke about it briefly in my article on Dubai but I decided to devote an article to it. In this article, you will find all my advice for a successful visit to Burj Khalifa. Its history, how to book your ascent of Burj Khalifa? What are your options for visit Burj Khalifa ?

First of all, for what it won’t talk to, Burj Khalifa is, quite simply, the tallest tower in the world. Burj Khalifa is therefore 828 meters high, for 160 floors. It consists mainly of apartments, offices and also a luxury hotel. This tower is located (obviously) in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It is located in the district of DownTown Burj Khalifa. This district is really spectacular, you can walk there for long hours. We will talk soon about the different things to see and do in the surroundings.

Burj Khalifa history

For the record Burj Khalifa was originally not to be called Burj Khalifa but Burj Dubai. Indeed, the tower was renamed at its inauguration with the name of Sheikh Khalifa, Emir of Abhu Dabi and President of the United Arab Emirates. In the midst of the financial crisis, the emirate of Dubai was hampered in its frenzied construction momentum by a lack of money. Dubai therefore did not have the financial means to complete its huge Downtown project. Burj Khalifa. It is therefore the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi which came to the aid of Dubai by financing the crazy project of Dubai to the tune of 10 billion dollars. In return, the tower was renamed Burj Khalifa.

The Burj Khalifa project began in 2003 when one of Dubai’s leading real estate companies decided to build the tallest tower in the world. Initially the tower was to measure only 560 meters in height but in view of the many similar projects, the promoter decided to considerably increase the size to arrive at this final size of 828 meters. Although it has undergone many controversies, especially on the working conditions of workers, the tower is a real technical feat. The figures are staggering, 39,000 tons of steel, 330,000 cubic meters of concrete for a total of more than 22 million cumulative working hours. The tower can accommodate more than 35,000 people at the same time distributed in the 304 hotel rooms and 900 apartments that compose it.
It was in 2010, on January 4, that the tower was inaugurated. Today it is possible to visit Burj Khalifa by accessing different floors (the 124, 125 and 148th) open to the public.

Visiting Burj Khalifa is a must in Dubai, the ascent of this tower is called ” At The Top “For floors 124 and 125 and” At The Top Sky » for floor 148. This visit is, of course, not free. The price varies depending on the floor you want to access. Indeed, it is possible to visit Burj Khalifa by joining one of the three floors open to the public: the 124th, 125th or 148th. It is mandatory to book your ascent of the tower in advance. Once you have entered Burj Khalifa, you will first wait in a sort of waiting room in which you can admire a miniature representation of the tower.

Once your turn has arrived, you will therefore pass security gates and a souvenir photo. Further on, you will advance through several corridors of the tower until you reach … the end of the queue. I you therefore strongly recommend the purchase of skip-the-line tickets. So let’s resume our queue through several corridors, plunged into darkness with a timeline telling you the history of the tower and exposing you its impressive figures and records.
Finally your turn. You will therefore enter one of the two elevators available to tourists. Large elevators, very design, also totally black with a small counter that shows you which floor you are on.

The elevator starts up, and even though we can’t see the outside, we feel the elevator pick up speed, reaching its maximum speed of 18 meters per second (world record). The floors indicator scrolls through the numbers to a pretty impressive visit. Be careful with the ears, they get blocked very quickly and will hurt you slightly.

Once at the top, you arrive in a large room, completely glazed and offering you an exceptional view. You can also go out onto a small terrace. Look up, you will have a rather strange feeling when you see what is left in height, almost 400 meters. The height of the tower is truly impressive. From this point of view you will be able to see almost everything. First of all, the roof of the Dubai Mall, the Burj Khalifa lake, the city is its innumerable towers (which will immediately seem smaller to you), in the distance you will see “The World”, the artificial islands of Dubai then in the distance. horizon la jumeirah palm. Many “interactive binoculars” are available and show you the different places in the city that you see, you can even see what they look like at night, thanks to the screens of these binoculars.

You will find, on this floor, a souvenir shop as well as a stand to have your photograph taken.
A new queue awaits you before descending, just as quickly, via the same elevator.
I advise you to visit Burj Khalifa by day, but to stay near it to admire the tower at night. The lighting of the tower and the district is really sumptuous. You can also opt for a combination which will allow you to enjoy the café located on the ground floor of the tower.

Burj Khalifa in numbers

• 330,000 m3 of reinforced concrete
• 39,000 tonnes of steel beams
• 142,000 m2 of glass
• More than 24,000 windows
• 57 elevators
• The fastest elevator in the world: 18m / second or 40 km / hour
• 22 million cumulative working hours
• Tallest tower in the world: 828 meters high
• 160 floors
• Highest panoramic terrace in the world: 452 meters
• The tower is (theoretically) visible 90 km away.
• Cost of the tower: $ 1.5 billion

My opinion on the Burj Khalifa

For me, a visit to Burj Khalifa is a must-see in Dubai. This tower, the tallest in the world, is truly surprising. From start to finish the experience is unique. Even the ascent, in the fastest elevator in the world, is an experience in itself.
The view from the top of the tower is impressive and offers a breathtaking panorama of the city of Dubai and its surroundings.
So this is a tour that I highly recommend if you are visiting Dubai.

Around Burj Khalifa

Visiting Burj Khalifa also means visiting the neighborhood that surrounds it. In addition, this tower, the district and the surroundings are among the most attractive in Dubai. You will find many hotels there, including the famous The Address, the Dubai Mall, the largest shopping center in the world, a veritable labyrinth of shops where it is pleasant to cool off when the heat becomes hard to bear outside. You will also find the Burj Khalifa Lake with its impressive Dubai Fountain, a real aquatic spectacle with the highest water jets in the world. A visit to Dubai should be near these fountains. One should not miss under any circumstances one of the shows that animates the fountain. Every day at 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday), then in the evening every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. and until 11 p.m. the fountains of the basin come alive and offer a beautiful sound and light show. The Dubai Fountain’s water jets are among the tallest in the world, rising to over 275 meters in height. More than 6,000 lights illuminate this pool of water located at the foot of Burj Khalifa. It is even possible to see the spectacle up close by opting for a boat trip on this body of water!

Burj Khalifa: Questions / Answers

What year was Burj Khalifa built?
Work on the tower began in 2003 and ended in 2009. The inauguration was celebrated in 2010.
How high is the tower?
The tower measures 829 meters with the antenna.
Which floors of Burj Khalifa can you climb to?
It is possible to reach floors 124, 125 and 148.
What is the price to visit Burj Khalifa?
It all depends on the floor you want to go up to.
Between € 30 and € 47 for floors 124 and 125. Prices vary depending on the hour.
Between 80 € and 115 € for floor 148. Here too the prices vary according to the time of day.

Today I continue to tell you about my trip to Morocco, after my week-long trip in this country, a short trip to Rabat, capital of Morocco, and one of the 4 imperial cities of Morocco with Fez, Marrakech and Meknes .
You should know that although Rabat is the capital of Morocco, the city is not the largest. We spent two days there and I think that is enough for visit Rabat, or at least most of what I would qualify as “unmissable”.

Practical information for visiting Rabat

Rabat-Salé Airport:

Rabat has an airport very well served by many companies. You will be able to find many cheap flights by comparing different airlines.
Once at the airport you will have to go to the city center. There are several solutions for this:

• By taxi: The taxi is a means of transport widely used in Morocco, they are of two types, “large” taxis, white Mercedes and “small” yellow taxis. At the airport you will only find large taxis. These will take you to any location in town.
• By shuttle: There is a shuttle connecting Rabat airport to the city center. This is taken opposite the exit of the airport. You will reach the city in about twenty minutes, all for around € 2.
• Rent a car : If Rabat is just the starting point for your trip to Morocco, then it may be a good idea to hire a car at the airport. It is also possible to rent one in the city center. Again, be sure to compare car rental prices. I recommend the use of RentalCars which is, for me, one of the most efficient comparators on the market.

Getting around Rabat

As in many cities, the city center is not particularly convenient to visit by car. Whether you have rented a car or not, I advise you to travel on foot or by tram. Rabat has two very convenient tram lines for getting around.

Visit Rabat: the essentials of Rabat

Visit Rabat, the Kasbah of the Oudayas

The Kasbah des Oudayas is a place that is imperative to visit. Indeed, set aside a few hours to stroll through the quiet and narrow streets of this former military camp. Built in the 12th century this military fort is, at the base, used to defend the city from enemy tribes and then grows in importance by becoming a Ribas (military camp) used to monitor the mouth of the Bouregreg river.
This ribat is also used a little more by the Moroccan army during the conquest of Andalusia.
The name of the city comes from this word, Ribat. Today this old fort is a city within a city. Surrounded by walls, this district of Rabat is famous thanks to its streets painted in white and blue. At the bend of a small street you will certainly come across the Maure café, an essential address in the Kasbah where it is pleasant to have a tea while contemplating the panoramic view of the mouth of the river and the beach.

The Hassan Tower and the Mohammed V Mausoleum

Originally this tower was supposed to be the minaret of the largest mosque in the world. The construction of the mosque was stopped after the death of Sultan El Mansour. Long abandoned, the tower is at the end of its restoration. This is located at the end of a large esplanade, the oratory, dotted with 312 columns. On the other side of it is the Mohammed V Mausoleum where the body of the late king rests as well as that of his son Prince Moulay Abdellah.

Not far from Rabat, visit Salé

Despite the large size of the city, the capital of Morocco, Rabat is not the city where you will find the most to visit in Morocco. If you are staying for several days in Rabat I advise you to go to Salé. Salé is a town located a few kilometers from Rabat on the other side of Bouregreg.
Salé has a medina, and one of the largest mosques in Morocco. However, what makes Salé so charming is undoubtedly Borj Adoumoue. The walls of Salé, by the sea, adorned with cannons are very pleasant, especially at the end of the day.

Small tips for visiting Salé. The city is rather easy to access. I advise you to take the Tramway in Rabat, in the direction of Hay Karima, and get off at Bab Lamrissa or at Salé station. You then arrive at the gates of the medina. To reach the borj you will have to walk a few tens of minutes.

Where to sleep in Rabat?

Even though Rabat is broken down into many neighborhoods, two of them are the most important. The Medina district, which represents old Rabat and the more modern district, the Hassan district where you will find, for example, hotel chains like Mercure or MGallery from Sofitel. The Medina district will have the advantage of offering atypical hotels such as magnificent riads, old residences, private mansions renovated into accommodation to accommodate passing travelers. Some of these accommodations are pure marvels like Dar Shâan or Dar Mayssane to name a few.
For my part, I had the chance to sleep in Riad Azahra, located in the medina, this riad offers very good value for money. If you want to know more about this riad, do not hesitate to read my article dedicated to my accommodation in Rabat.

After having made you discover some of my rentals in Fez and Rabat and after having made you discover my trip in the Moroccan desert, I will try to make you visit Fez.
Fez is the second largest city in Morocco, with nearly 1.2 million inhabitants. Fez has, on several occasions, been the capital of Morocco.
We are going to review the essential places of this city and I will give you some tips for visiting Fez. First of all, you should know that the city of Fez is divided into three large sectors, the medina (historic center), the new city and the royal district.

The medina of Fez or Fez El Bali, the historic center of Fez

The mosques of the Medina of Fez

The medina of Fez is the largest medina in the Arab world, therefore it has many mosques, more than thirty, some of which are very old and very well renovated, such as the El-Qaraouiyyîn mosque founded in the 9th century. Unfortunately, I could not tell you more about the mosques in Fez, indeed mosques in Morocco are prohibited for non-Muslims.

The medersas of the Medina of Fez

Madrasas or madrassa, are schools or universities, religious or secular, in the Arab world. The medina has several, some of which are very well preserved and renovated. Admission is payable, a few dirhams only, to enter the courtyard of the madrassa. I had the opportunity to visit two of the most beautiful medersa in the medina of Fez.

Medersa Bou Inania

The Medersa Bou Inania was built around 1350. It is the only medersa to have a minaret. It also has a water clock. The decoration of this Medersa is impressive, the details of the inlays on these walls are quite impressive.

Médersa Al Attarine

Built in 1323, the Medersa Al Attarine is one of the most beautiful Medersa in Fez and one of the best preserved. Small regret, of this old Koranic school you can only visit the courtyard. It will cost you 10 dirhams.
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The Chouara tanneries of Fez

You should know that you will find 3 different tanneries in the medina of Fez. The most famous, the largest and also the oldest are the tanneries of Chouara. Visiting the tanneries is a must during your stay in Fez. It is a unique place where animal skins are worked so that they are transformed into slippers, bags or any other leather-based product.
The visit of these tanneries will show you the different stages of this preparation as well as the different tanks in which these skins are immersed. You will also see the drying of these.

Tips for visiting Chouara tanneries

Be aware that when you walk in the medina of Fez, you will have the unpleasant surprise of being alpaca by a multitude of people wishing to drive you and show you around the tanneries. Even if you will feel like these people want to take you there for free, you are sure to come across someone asking you for money to access the tanneries.
Even if, theoretically, there is no charge to enter, be prepared to donate a few coins to be able to enter. Nothing excessive, 10 dirhams (around 1 euro). It is a bad thing for a good because the visit quickly becomes a “guided” visit where you are explained the different stages and processes of transformation of the skins.

The Glaoui Palace

The Glaoui Palace is one of my most memorable visits to the medina of Fez. Off the busy streets of the medina, the Glaoui palace, built in the 19th century, was the palace of the Glaoui of Marrakech. It was here that he stayed during his visits to Fez. This palace has not been used since the 1950s and this is where all the peculiarity of the palace lies. Indeed, Abdou, the only resident of the palace, cannot maintain and renovate this monumental palace. And yes, I didn’t tell you, but this palace covers 13,000 square meters and has more than 1,000 rooms. Abdou is a painter, plastic artist, he exhibits his paintings around the world at various events. You will be able to contemplate some of them during the visit of the palace. The tour only covers a very small part of the palace, but the visit is well worth it. No fixed price, you give what you want, the money will be used for the renovation of the palace.
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Visit Fez, its royal district

Visiting Fez also means visiting its royal district. The royal district, where the royal palace is located, is an obligatory stage of your visit to Fez. This one is located between the old city with its districts, Fés El Bali, Fès El Jdid and the new city. The royal palace is located on the Place des Alaouites. You cannot miss it with its imposing facade. Unfortunately you won’t see any more. You will not be able to go inside you can nevertheless contemplate the impressive door.
Merinid tombs

The Mérinides is a dynasty that reigned over Morocco between the 13th and 15th centuries. They settled in Fez for a period and founded Fes El-Jdid. They have therefore left their mark on all of Morocco and more particularly Fez.
It is therefore in this city that you can discover the ruins of the Merinid tombs. Unfortunately, not much of these tombs remains, but I still recommend this stop during your visit to Fez. Indeed these ruins being located on a hill you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the medina of Fez.

Small tips for visiting the Merinid Tombs

The Merinid tombs are located a little outside the city, they are not easily accessible on foot or even by public transport. If you haven’t rented a car, I recommend taking a taxi. You will quickly understand that it is the most practical public transport to get from one place to another in Fez. The trick is to ask the driver to wait for you not far from the tombs. You can ask him to wait 20 to 30 minutes, which is more than enough to enjoy the ruins and the view of the medina.

Where to stay in Fez?

Fez is a relatively large city separated into 3 main parts. The question of accommodation will inevitably come to your mind and to visit Fez well it is better not to be wrong about the location of the accommodation.
As I told you Fez is divided into 3 large districts, Fes El Bali which is the oldest district of Fez. Fez El Bali is the medina, entirely pedestrianized, picturesque, full of life during the day with its alleys full of small stalls mainly based on crafts. It is the most touristic district. It was in this neighborhood that I stayed. You will inevitably come there during the day. In the evening the medina gradually empties. There you will find a few restaurants and places to have a drink.

Fez El Jdid, again a more recent medina. I did not go to this medina at night, but only during the day. You will find the living side of Fez El Bali but you will undoubtedly be less disoriented.
The new city is the most recent district of Fez. This one looks like most big cities in Morocco. You will find a multitude of bar restaurants. This side of town is much more lively in the evening.
Several choices are therefore available to you for accommodation when you visit Fez. For my part, I will recommend the medina and if possible stay in a riad, this typical Moroccan accommodation is very pleasant and the people particularly welcoming. I invite you to make your choice on a vacation rental site like Vacances.SeLoger.com for example. There are many riads there and you can refine your choice according to your budget and the desired equipment. In this regard, do not hesitate to choose a riad with air conditioning if you plan to visit Fez during the hot season!

Let’s continue our little trip in the state of Yucatan by going further east. You can easily find accommodation in the city of Mérida which is the main city of the state. Although not a beach fan, a detour to the port town of Progreso is worth the trip, if only for a good seafood and fish restaurant and a little swim.

The unmissable sites to visit this part of Yucatan are Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun and the Puuc ruta. There are many other sites to see, but you have to know how to choose, unless you are staying there longer!

Uxmal

The Puuc city par excellence, Uxmal was the political and religious capital of the region between the 7th and 10th centuries. The name “Uxmal” means “three times built”, although we have little knowledge of the history of this site, we can notice that the pyramid of the Soothsayer seems to have been raised 3 times. The Xiu tribe ruled Uxmal for a long time.

Entering the site we first discover the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, bypassing it we arrive in a series of small quadrilateral before arriving at the large quadrilateral of the nuns. This palace is a perfect demonstration of the Puuc style with its sober walls while the roofs are teeming with sculptures and mosaics. In the alignment of the southern access, one can see the ball playing field.

The visit continues to the Governor’s Palace. This 99m long building was a demonstration of authority on the part of Señor Chaac who ruled the region around AD 900. The royal throne, representing two jaguars, is in perfect alignment with the planet Venus, a proof of more knowledge of the Mayan peoples if necessary. On the roof we find a huge waving serpent and two-headed snakes similar to those in the Nuns’ Quadrangle.

Going around the palace, you arrive at the great pyramid which is only discovered on the north face. From above, the view of the site and the jungle is breathtaking. We then realize the size of the site and the potential of other wonders not yet revealed in this jungle.

The Puuc route

Uxmal is central to many other lesser sites like Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Labna. These ruins form the Puuc ruta. It is possible to tour these sites in one day by car (approximately 120 km).
These ruins reveal the Puuc style, with the sober walls and the abundant roofs as evoked in Uxmal. In this region, there are no cenotes like in Chichen Itza to keep water, the rain god was then one of the most important, symbol of fertility. This is the god Chaac that can be recognized in each of these sites.

You can end the route with the Loltun caves. Impressive in size, ancient civilizations used them as shelters and as a place of worship in the depths.

Be careful on this road, access to all sites is chargeable. In Loltun, the visit must be guided but the guide is not included in the entry price. Make sure you have enough cash for this day, the sites are not equipped with card readers or ATMs from international banks.

Dzibilchaltún

Located a few kilometers north of Mérida, this archaeological site is considered one of the most ancient. Less tall than Chichen or Uxmal, he is well known for his temple of the seven dolls. This temple owes its name to the clay figurines found there. Standing at the end of a long alley, its openings are in line with the sun during the equinoxes.

Behind the square of the site containing various temples and buildings, you will find the cenote Xlacah, flush with the ground, it invites you to a refreshing swim in this magical place. As in Uxmal, you will not be able to miss the many iguanas which take the sun on the hot stones.

At the exit of the site, you can also visit the Museum of the Maya people which will allow you to understand a little better the life in the region until the Spanish conquest.

Mexico City is the largest city in the world, walking around it one is surprised to discover a mixture of pre-Columbian, colonial and American cultures. There are many neighborhoods to visit, and countless museums. Here is a selection of what stood out to me the most during my visits as well as my advice for visiting Mexico City.

Chapultepec Park

Chapultepec Park is a woodland of some 600 hectares in the heart of Mexico City. The museums, the botanical garden, the zoo, the lake and many other attractions make it a very pleasant place to walk around without worrying about the city moving a few meters away.

It is also an important historical place. It is indeed on the hill of Chapultepec that the Aztecs settled in the 13th century before founding Tenochtitlan, which later became Mexico City. The colonists built there Chapultepec Castle, located at the top of the hill. During the war against the United States a famous battle in Mexico gave rise to the legend of the child heroes of Chapultepec.

At the edge of the park is the National Anthropology Museum which allows you to discover the pre-Columbian civilizations since the arrival of man on this continent until today.

Between relaxation and culture, this park should therefore be a must on your visit to properly visit Mexico City.

Visiter Mexico: El Zocalo

El Zocalo is the main square in the historic center of Mexico City. We find there the multicultural aspects of the country and the city. The huge cathedral in the Spanish style recalls the colonies while a few meters further is the archaeological site of the major temple. This temple is the great pyramid of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, which was updated during works in 1978.

In the center of the square, the huge flag of Mexico flies in the wind. This flag is a great pride for Mexicans. On the side of the square we can see the National Palace and going a little further we find some pedestrian streets that can lead us to the Palace of Fine Art which recalls the passion of the former president Porfirio Dias for France at the beginning. of the twentieth century.

Relaxation in Mexico City

To properly visit Mexico City you should spend a few days there as there are so many places to see. To escape the hustle and bustle of the city, you can walk in the parks or in quieter neighborhoods. It is very pleasant to walk in Coyoacan for example, it is a colonial district, it almost feels like a Spanish village.

Thanks to the climate of the region, there are many flat roofs, which makes it possible to have terraces of cafes in height. Ideal for forgetting the cars for a michelada, these very refreshing Mexican beers with lemon.

And finally, the Condesa district, you can stroll along the less frequented boulevards and therefore more pleasant than the main avenues like Reforma. You will find all kinds of restaurants there, I believe that not one type of cuisine is lacking in this area!

If you love Mexico, discover Oaxaca and its region.